Holiday haven: Encroachers complete illegal constructions

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 17

Taking advantage of weekend holidays, encroachers have installed grills around a considerable portion of the Company Garden at the backside of the Amritsar Club. Officials of the Municipal Corporation, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and the district administration haven’t visited the spot where encroachment has been going on in broad daylight.

While the petitioner in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Amritsar Vikas Manch office-bearers claimed that they would file contempt case against the officials of the district administration and the Municipal Corporation.

Charanjit Singh Gumtala, patron of the Amritsar Vikas Manch, said, “We will take photographs of the fresh encroachment and present the same before the court that how the MC and the district administration have turned a blind eye to it. We will also file a contempt case.”

Gumtala stated that they had collected the record from the ASI head office through RTI that the office of ASI had been writing letters to the district administration about the expansion of the clubs, but the administration and the MC didn’t take action. “It is sad that the administration is aware of the ongoing encroachment, but did not take action. Now, no one will dare to demolish it and it will become a permanent property of the encroachers. The Company Garden is getting congested due to such activities. The garden is the only breathing space in the city. Politicians should show some concern before supporting encroachers,” added Gumtala.

The over 200-year-old Ram Bagh Garden, generally known as Company Bagh or Company Garden, is a protected monument, declared by the Archeological Survey of India. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered government to remove the concrete structure from the garden.